Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) drawn from the Lake Region Economic bloc have backed Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir's ban on muguka.
They further state that if muguka has been proven and medically justified that it’s affecting the lives of children then the ban that the coastal counties have come up with should be extended and emulated to other counties.
Speaking to the press in Bungoma on Thursday during the Lake Region Civil Society Organization’s Network, John Mukenya, Child defender, Bungoma County Child Rights Network (BCCRN) said that the CSOs from the region decided to meet so that they would deliberate on the ongoing muguka debate in the country.
He said the forum allowed the CSOs to give their input and comments on the Muguka ban.
“We decided to plan for this forum so that the Civil Society Organizations drawn from this region also submit their thoughts on the controversial debate on the muguka ban,” Mukenya said.
Further, Mukenya stated that the consumption of muguka in the affected counties has posed a danger to school-going children.
“Children deserve the best from any government or human being and as a country, I think muguka and miraa and the rest of the substances are not the best to give to our children,” he said.
Umi Maloba, Bungoma Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson, expressed her worries that the consumption of muguka and miraa has side effects noting that it has made many youths lose direction in life.
“Muguka consumption among the youths has its side effects if you look at how the youths using the substances are out of their senses,” she said.